UNBELIEVABLE
It might seem unbelievable, but a third of households in the Stroud District do not recycle.
This means that all their rubbish simply gets tipped into a hole in the ground – known as landfill. Unfortunately, this can’t go on! In Gloucestershire, we have enough landfill space for just 5 years. If that isn’t bad enough, from 2010 councils will be fined for putting rubbish into landfill – the more they put in, the more they pay. Guess who will end up footing the bill!?
The news is all the more surprising as the Stroud District has a good reputation for recycling. 26% of all household refuse is currently recycled, placing the District among the best in the country.
“People don’t recycle for several reasons,” says Michael Kelly, Stroud District Council’s Public Space Officer. “Usually it’s simply that they haven’t got into the habit, or that they think it’s more trouble than it really is. We don’t want to wave the big stick, but we need these people to understand that they have a responsibility to everyone else and that not recycling will cost them money.
We often find that people simply don’t have a recycling box, perhaps because they’ve moved. All they need to do is email recycling@stroud.gov.uk or call 01453 754424. Of course, some people may have genuine reasons for not recycling, but we’re here to help – just give us a call.”
Landfill also has a huge environmental cost. Rotting food produces methane – one of the most harmful greenhouse gases – and toxic liquid run-off. Meanwhile, many items, such as disposable nappies, can take hundreds of years to decompose.
“Recycling isn’t something the council wants to do for its own benefit,” says Mr Kelly. “It’s for the future of everyone and the planet. Do your bit – use your box.”
Items that can be placed in recycling boxes include paper, glass bottles/jars, steel & aluminium cans, plastic bottles, foil and non-rechargeable batteries.
Top Recycling tips
- Flatten plastic bottles so our lorry can carry more
- Put shredded paper in your compost bin – it helps the process!
- Junk mail, letters and other paper can be put in your green box, not just newspapers and magazines
- Shop smart – buy products with less packaging
- Remember – reduce, reuse, recycle